Hector Santiago

Santiago looked primed to put together his best season in the majors after securing a rotation spot out of spring training, and he went into the break as an AL All-Star with a sparkling 2.33 ERA and 3...

Manager Mike Scioscia kept a tight leash on Santiago in his first year with the Angels, as his start against the A's on April 14 was the only time he pitched at least seven innings all season. Aside from usage issues, Santiago seems to be losing velocity at an alarming rate, as his average fastball fell below 91 mph last season after being clocked at 93.8 mph in 2011. This trend correlates to a precipitous drop in Santiago's strikeout rate, which fell below 20.0% in 2014 after being as high as 25.8% during his rookie year in 2012, though some of that decline is the function of making the transition from reliever to starter. Walks are still a major concern, but Santiago posted a 2.98 ERA despite a 4.0 BB/9 in the second half of the season. With Tyler Skaggs expected to miss the 2015 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August, Santiago will likely have a shot to regain a spot in the rotation in spring training.

2014

Santiago started the 2013 season in the bullpen, but he was in the White Sox's rotation by May after injuries took down the team's other starters. His screwball is the most novel element of his arsenal, but his sinker was a more effective pitch. He pitched particularly well in July, when opposing hitters hit .197 off him in five starts, but his effectiveness waned as the season progressed and he posted monthly WHIP's above 1.60 in August and September. His strikeout rate also fell during these months -- he had a 9.4 K/9 through July, but it fell to 6.1 over his final nine starts. This could be a sign of fatigue or diminishing skills as the innings accumulated. Sent to the Angels as part of a three-team swap in December, Santiago will try to secure a place in the back of a new-look Anaheim rotation.

2013

Santiago surprisingly won the White Sox's closer role out of spring training to start the 2012 season, but he lost the job after blowing two saves and posting an 8.53 ERA in April. The club stretched him out later in the season, and he made four September starts. His repertoire is a bit unique in that he relies heavily on sinkers and screwballs, both of which helped him strike out 28 batters over his final 22 innings. He should continue to build up arm strength in the offseason as he pitches in the Dominican League and plans to play in the World Baseball Classic. Santiago should be in the mix for one of the final spots in the White Sox's rotation this spring.

2012

The White Sox recalled Santiago in late June when injuries hit the pitching staff, and he appeared in only two games during his 24 days with the club. He looks more like a reliever at this point, but he will probably begin 2012 as an organizational starter at Triple-A. His leap to Double-A last season came with a slight decline in his strikeout rate (8.01 K/9IP) and a big spike in his walk rate (4.22 BB/9IP). He will need to improve the latter in order to remain a starter as he continues to advance through the system.